President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that Ghana’s 68th Independence Day celebration cost the government GHS 1 million, a significant reduction from previous years.

Speaking at the event held at Jubilee House on Thursday, March 6, President Mahama explained that the decision to relocate the celebration from Independence Square to the presidential palace was aimed at cutting costs amidst the country’s economic difficulties.

According to the President, initial estimates suggested that hosting the event at Independence Square at the usual scale would have cost GHS 20 million.

“This year, we received an estimate of at least 20 million Ghana cedis for holding the event at the Independence Square on the same scale as the previous year,” he stated.

Given the current financial constraints, he said, it was necessary to adopt a more cost-effective approach.

He noted that spending such an amount on a few hours of celebration would have been unjustifiable under the current economic conditions.

“This decision will save us 95% of the estimated cost of the event,” the President emphasized.President Mahama further disclosed that in previous years, the celebrations were much costlier, citing the GHS 15 million spent on the 2024 event in Koforidua and the GHS 13.7 million used for the 2023 celebration in Ho.

Despite the scaled-down celebration, the President reassured Ghanaians that the significance of Independence Day remained intact.

He emphasized that the occasion continues to serve as a reminder of Ghana’s leadership in Africa’s independence struggle and its role in inspiring other nations to seek self-determination.